8 incredible images of lunar eclipses: When a blood moon reigns

8 incredible images of lunar eclipses

When a blood moon reigns

There's a famous line that refers to a specific blood moon, a lunar eclipse on Sept. 20, 331 BCE that happened right before the Arbela battle of Alexander the Great. A blood red moon has been seen throughout history as a sign of impending doom. However, these events are simply the result of a lunar eclipse, or when the Earth is aligned between the moon and the sun. Be it white, grey, orange or red, a lunar eclipse is a spectacular vision. The recent lunar eclipse on April 15, 2014, is the first of a rare series, and we're celebrating the moment with several outstanding images of lunar eclipses from Earth and beyond.

Pictured here is a triple image of a total lunar eclipse on July 16, 2000, which lasted an hour and 47 minutes. A lunar eclipse of this length will not be surpassed for the next 1,000 years. (Text: Katherine Butler)